Best rides in West Coast of Canada

[Dazzer]

Hi

Leigh and I will be arriving in Canada on the 24th August. our bike is being shipped from Korea and should arrive in Seattle just after we arrive in Vancouver. When we get confirmation the bike as arrived we will get the bus down to Seattle and collect our bike.

We will be riding north to Alaska and would like any tips on best route to ride and sights to see on route north and on our return route south.

Any info at all will helpful

Thanks . Dazzer and Leigh

photos and write up of our trip so far here

http://www.bmwgs.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=10

[Steve G.]

Originally Posted by Dazzer

Hi

Leigh and I will be arriving in Canada on the 24th August. our bike is being shipped from Korea and should arrive in Seattle just after we arrive in Vancouver. When we get confirmation the bike as arrived we will get the bus down to Seattle and collect our bike.

We will be riding north to Alaska and would like any tips on best route to ride and sights to see on route north and on our return route south.

Any info at all will helpful

Thanks . Dazzer and Leigh

photos and write up of our trip so far here

http://www.bmwgs.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=10

I'll assume you are asking about paved roads vs gravel roads. Well,,,,clearly the best street riding in BC,,,,Canada,,,,is found in south central BC and southeast BC. I know this is an out of the way to your destination of Alaska. The route you will take to Alaska will involve vast distances of less than entertaining, but picturesque touring roads. And there are few options extept the main routes once north of central BC.
The street riding options directly east of Seattle in central and eastern Washington, Idaho, western Montana and Oregon trump anything found anywhere in Canada,,,by a huge margin. Never mind the motorcycle playground of northern and central California.

Steve

[Cody1771]

if you're intrested, my wife gets off work for 10 days on August 31st (might be able to get off a bit earlier) we are looking to do some riding around BC for the week leading up to the BCBATR starting in Harrison, we could join you for a part since i have lived in BC all my life and have yet to do any traveling in the interior.

[gunnerbuck]

One of the best rides which involves mixed roads on your way north is to Travel #99 up past Whistler To Pemberton and then head towards Darcy and ride the Highline Road to Seton ... From Seton ride over Mission Pass and follow the Bridge/Yalicom Canyon down to Lillooet for resupply... From Lillooet take the West Pavillion to the Big Bar ferry where you will have the option of going to Clinton for fuel or ride through to {Dog Creek fuel} Gang Ranch to 2800, past Farwell and out to HWY 20 turning right to Williams Lake... I have done versions of this ride many times with a loaded up travel bike and while some sections are steep it is not an overly difficult route to ride for the experienced traveler with decent navigation skills... As for scenic splendor per KM this route is at or near the top on the B.C. list...

From Williams Lake the highway North is a bit ho-hum until you get nearer to Smithers and then the scenery picks up there all the way up to the Yukon {Cassiar HWY}... There is a gravel road option from Williams Lake as well by linking the West Fraser road and Blackwater roads to come out near Vanderhoof with a fuel stop between in Quesnel...

Of the 2 Hwys that access the North the Cassiar HWY beats out the Alaska Hwy for the more continuous scenic route...

A third option would be to ride up Vancouver Island and catch the ferry to Rupert, the ferry ride can be very scenic in good weather... I travel up and down Vancouver Island a lot and prefer to travel the off pavement routes over using the main Hwy... One Island option would be to travel the coast section #19A to Cambell River, then #28 out to Gold River and gravel to rejoin #19 near Woss... There are other options as well that require a bit more Navigation Skills of which I could forward you some GPS data...


Happy Trails...
David.

[Dazzer]

Thanks all . I will post again once we have collected the bike, then we will have a better idea on dates then we will be in your are.

Many Thanks Dazzer and Leigh

[Dazzer]

Thank you all for the info

We leave Thailand in a few hours for our flight to Vancouver. we stay there two nights before catching the greyhound bus to Seattle on Saturday. The port is closed over the weekend so hope to get the bike Monday at the earliest.

Hope to see some of you on route.

Dazzer and Leigh

[GISdood]

Let me know if you happen to be spending the night in the Prince George area as you head north. We've got a huge yard with lots of space for tenting, and a spare room as well if you want a break from camping.

The only hitch may be the timing... my wife and I are headed to southeast BC on August 31st and probably won't be returning until around September 7th or 8th.

Enjoy the ride!

[Strawdog]

I just came down from Watson Lake Yukon down Highway 37 In British Columbia then down to 99 roads were in good shape little crazy with traffic at Whistler. Had a blast on 99 North of Whistler. Highway 37 to me was alot more interesting the the ride from Dawson Creek to Watson lake on the Alaskain Highway.

[Dazzer]

Originally Posted by GISdood

Let me know if you happen to be spending the night in the Prince George area as you head north. We've got a huge yard with lots of space for tenting, and a spare room as well if you want a break from camping.

The only hitch may be the timing... my wife and I are headed to southeast BC on August 31st and probably won't be returning until around September 7th or 8th.

Enjoy the ride!

Many Thanks GISdood.

we are now in Vancouver. staying at the Travelodge for two nights to recover from the jet lag . Friday we will check out the route from here to the Greyhound bus station and then Saturday we will head down to Tacoma where we hope the bike will arrive this weekend. All being well we hope to clear customs on Monday. If so we will start heading north to Alaska. We cant wait .

Thanks All. Dazzer and Leigh

[Scott_F]

Originally Posted by Dazzer

Many Thanks GISdood.

we are now in Vancouver. staying at the Travelodge for two nights to recover from the jet lag . Friday we will check out the route from here to the Greyhound bus station and then Saturday we will head down to Tacoma where we hope the bike will arrive this weekend. All being well we hope to clear customs on Monday. If so we will start heading north to Alaska. We cant wait .

Thanks All. Dazzer and Leigh

Absolutely take the road north of Vancouver, BC99, rather than fight the traffic out the valley. The road from Whistler to Cache Creek is one of the best rides in BC. From there you're out of the mountains, motoring north up a wide valley with lots of straight, flat stretches. Bring bug juice and happy riding.

Regards
Scott Fraser

[Dazzer]

Thanks for the info.
A link to our tracker is here. Cant wait to get out there on the bike.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...lphFACkExoOzID

[Dazzer]

After 2 hours doing the paper work at the Tacoma port I was aloud to collect my bike and leave the port.

At last were free to ride. The kind people at Custom Bikes ordered me a tyre I needed ,so as soon as that arrives on Thursday Morning we start riding North.

Hope to meet a few ADV riders on route.

[GrizzLee]

Originally Posted by Dazzer

After 2 hours doing the paper work at the Tacoma port I was aloud to collect my bike and leave the port.

At last were free to ride. The kind people at Custom Bikes ordered me a tyre I needed ,so as soon as that arrives on Thursday Morning we start riding North.

Hope to meet a few ADV riders on route.

I plan to leave tomorrow (Aug 31) for part of the same route.

My tentative plans..

Day 1 - Seattle to Pemberton via west Harrison Lake (Leave Seattle at 5:00 a.m.)
Day 2 - Pemberton (via Seton Portage) to Hanceville (Hwy 20 - Alexis Creek- get gas) via Pavillion to Big Bar Road up to Gang Ranch and over to Fletcher Lake. <=== This will be a BIG day.. may have to scale back.
Day 3 - More dirt over to Chilko Lake and back out to Hwy 20 and head over toward Bella Coola via "The Hill" (maybe only as far as TweedsMuir park or Tatla Lake)
Day 4 - Relax in Bella Coola, see some bears... maybe ride back to Anaheim Lake area
Day 5 - Bella Coola to Williams Lake.. Maybe all the way to Clinton (Hwy 97)
Day 6 - Clinton to Seattle


The area is incredible. It would be great to meet a fellwo ADV inmate.

If you see an ugly guy on an oversize dualsport (see pic). Please say hi. Or at the very least, help me pick up my bike :-)


Here is a brief description of my trip up that way last year. INCREDIBLE country.
http://rubikonadventures.blogspot.co...lla-coola.html

Hope to see you or fellow ADV inmates out there.

[DNF]

http://www.destinationhighways.com/default.htm

[H96669]

The "Hill".....that's the best part. Hum them big rocks on the road, a little unnerving as you go down and see where they could push you.

The grizzlies, that's where they are/were last week.....between the bottom of the hill and Hagensborg.

Good stop on the way for food/camping would be at Clearwater Lake.Nice lodge....stop for cake & coffee.

Great highway but a little slippery in places from the cow patties.

Have fun!